The last solstice

Chapter 21: Breakthrough – Part 2.


While Celestia poured the strong black chá into the cups, Nocturnal Mirage thought he’s going to be straightforward and tell the Princess everything he had learned from Luna. Then he realized it would be a foolish idea to “bust the door open” like that. The stallion instinctively knew his odd relationship with the sun goddess has moved to a different level, but it was still very unstable, such as Celestia herself. The situation was new to both of them and Mirage had to mover very carefully, in order to carry out the mission Luna entrusted him with. If he were to tell the solar alicorn that she has to step out there in front of everypony and use her magic, otherwise the world will end, she’d most likely lose that tiny little confidence she had and would retreat back to her shell, sealing Equestria’s fate once and for all. No, the only way was to believe in the magic of friendship, like Pinkie Pie taught him. It already exceeded his expectations that the Princess proposed a conversation.

But as Mirage feared, they just sat in front of each other in heavy, awkward silence; uncertainty was tangible in the atmosphere. The cobalt earth pónei, pônei had to take the initiative, because Celestia still remained mute, yet unexpectedly calm; her mane billowed gently in the sunshine. The stallion opened his mouth, but they spoke at the same time, saying the same, most trivial thing a conversation could start with.

“Nice weather…”

Both made a frown that supposed to be a smile and stayed quiet for some time. Mirage felt the moment slipping away; his brain rapidly sorting out possible topics, before the white alicorn gets too frustrated. He still couldn’t believe Celestia’s inability to start the interaction. Her voice was once heard all over Equestria, armies followed her commands; she was a respected and loved ruler with hectic social life. Another aspect of her soul which has been degraded and deformed because of that dia ten years ago. Then Mirage got an idea and he decided to twang a different string.

“Even though I’ve been working here for several years, I still can’t get used to Canterlot’s bustling life… Guess I’m a Ponyvillian at heart…” the cobalt stallion said softly, gazing out the window, avoiding Celestia’s glance on purpose.

“You live in Ponyville?” the Princess of the Sun asked.

Her voice sounded neutral, but Mirage acknowledged with satisfaction that Celestia’s eyes kindled por hearing the name of the small town. Of course it wasn’t a coincidence the earth pónei, pônei chose this topic, he knew Ponyville held emotional meaning to the solar goddess.

“Yes... Although, I’m not there too often nowadays.” Mirage replied with a dubious smile.

“Hmm…” Celestia nodded and took a lady-like sip from her tea, but that curious light was still dancing in her eyes.

Seeing this, Mirage took coração and risked another move, taking it a bit further.

“Ah, how I miss Pinkie’s cupcakes…” he sighed with his eyelids closed halfway down.

But as he glanced at the Princess his confidence disappeared. Celestia had a wide, inextricable grin on her face, piercing her purple eyes into the stallion’s. Mirage could not decide if it was approving or menacing.

“Clever little trick to lure me into a conversation…” the grin melted away. “I bet Luna told you to say that.”

“What?! No, I really know Pinkie, she’s one of my best friends…”

Oh, man, how could I possibly believed I could fool the master manipulator?! Mirage thought desperately.

Celestia got up from the mesa, tabela all of a sudden and in a blink of an eye, she was beside Mirage, towering over him. The solar alicorn snatched his arm, cringing her head to meet the eye-level of the smaller earth pony.

“Look me in the eye and say this is not one of my sister’s tricks! And don’t you dare lie to me!!!”

“I assure you, I’m telling you the truth, Princess. I live in Ponyville, and I really know Pinkie Pie.” Mirage replied, trying to sound as calm as possible.

He was twitching a little in the unusually strong grasp of the white mare. Celestia’s eyes traveled to his arm, the stallion followed the glance. He realized the Princess was holding him with her right hoof. This was the first time Mirage could see the deep, burnt scar on it from close. There were several spots where the snow white pele, peles didn’t grow anymore; it was just cracked, wrinkled obsidian flesh. The solar goddess released him with a sudden move. She took her place at the mesa, tabela once again and inquiry slowly expanded on her features.

“Your coração is like a metronome. You were telling the truth.” the solar Princess declared objectively, then switched to a warmer, friendlier tone. “Now tell me… how’s Ponyville? I hadn’t had a chance to take a walk there for a long time…”

A relieved sigh escaped Mirage’s chest as he began to describe the present Ponyville to Celestia. As he spoke, mais and mais perguntas emerged, and the royal blue pónei, pônei answered them patiently. The alicorn’s curiosity grew with every word and it soon became clear to Mirage that the sun goddess was a very good and cultured conversation partner with a resonant, soothing speaking voice. She was feeling at início in almost every topic and the words she said were radiating with infinite wisdom. After the first hour, she got mais confident and slowly took the initiative. She began to dominate the thread of the conversation, but the dark blue stallion didn’t mind, because of several reasons. One was he knew Celestia hadn’t had the chance to talk to anypony for over a decade and now that the sluices of her soul opened, the words flooded out. Secondly, Mirage realized he could listen to the Princess’ beautiful vibrating voice forever, no matter what she says.

The entire experience was new to him as well; he’s never seen this side of the snow white alicorn before, but he noticed she always sits in a way so that her scarred face could remain hidden. Once she stopped in the middle of a sentence, when she realized that Mirage have seen a part of her wounded right cheek. She didn’t remember she once showed the stallion the whole extends of her scars before. But this negative thought has soon disappeared, for Celestia too found this new situation thrilling.

The stallion sitting in front of him was a good listener, and spoke far less than she did, yet whenever he opened his mouth he had intelligent comments to say. His calm and reserved behavior matched his deep, pleasing baritone. There was not much emotion on his features, but Celestia recognized, his esmeralda green eyes are very expressive and reflect everything. Despite the cobalt earth pónei, pônei always treated her as royalty, she didn’t sense that certain amount of fear behind the respect, which she felt with most of her loyal subjects. The Princess of the Sun never understood why ponies were atuação like that in her presence; she never gave a reason for them to do so. But Mirage seemed to look passed her alicorn form and her identity which she found strange, because when they first met, some hatred coming from deep within was definitely present in the stallion’s soul. In the seguinte few days, Celestia often found herself wondering where that hatred could have come from.

Their first true conversation lasted for several hours and Luna raised the Moon when they said goodbye to each other. They both went to cama with tingling heads and beating hearths, until the pleasing weariness overwhelmed them, and their minds slowly drifted into sleep.



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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I don't think anyone reads it anymore, but I'll keep posting anyway. I've gone too far with it to stop now, not to mention I really enjoy writing. :)